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Page 279
Adam and Joanna. To Ian's relief, he did not seem at all put out by the inconclusive answers he received. He said he understood that Alinor would scarcely be able to give her mind to such matters in the midst of her own wedding. Ian had to be a little less discreet, but Salisbury still did not take offense. He said he was sorry not to have Adam, and then remarked with a laugh and in plain words on what Ian had phrased most delicately.
''Alinor is wrong about my wife. She will have to come to know Ela better, but I can see that attendance at court might not be what is best for a young boy of such high spirit, more particularly for Adam if my brother takes this marriage illwhich I hope he will not. And it is reasonable not to make double ties in one direction when there are only two children. I may hope, then, that Lady Alinor will agree eventually to the marriage of Geoffrey and Joanna? She has no objection to Geoffrey?"
"As to that, none at all," Ian replied, and then, since Salisbury had been very frank, he added, "She said plainly that she would be glad of him even landless and without legitimization, if he could take Joanna's fancy. Moreover, she added she would do whatever was in her power to turn Joanna's eyes in Geoffrey's direction."
"Then I am content."
Salisbury mounted the horse held ready for him and waved farewell as he clattered over the drawbridge, following his wife's party. Ian stood looking after him for some time before he turned and hobbled back toward the keep. It was a relief to know that Salisbury was not offended and that he would do his best to smooth matters over with John. That had been implied, of course, in his letter. Nonetheless, it was good to have his renewed promise in the face of the animosity toward John that Alinor had deliberately raised.
Ian was never deluded into believing in the band of outlaws, but he credited Alinor with even greater skill in management and duplicity than she had. All day,

 
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